Eloquent Spacecraft Systems - Shuttle Challenges

septemberWaves · February 10, 2017

With the return of the excellent shuttle challenge and some improvements in my ability to design and fly planes, I've decided to start this thread to document my entries to the various STS challenges as well as other things I do on the topic of sandbox space shuttle missions that don't necessarily fit in with the current STS challenges.

Mod List

Spoiler

B9 Part Switch
Buffalo
Color Coded Cannisters
Colorful Fuel Lines
Community Category Kit
Community Resource Pack
Deployable Engines
DMagic Orbital Science
Duna Restoration Project
Editor Extensions Redux
EVA Chutes
Final Frontier
Firespitter Fuel Switch
Fuel Tanks Plus
GPO Speed Fuel Pump
Interstellar Fuel Switch
Kerbal Alarm Clock
Kerbal Attachment System
Kerbal Joint Reinforcement
Kerbal Inventory System
Kopernicus
Lithobrake Exploration Technologies
Mark IV Spaceplane System
Mark One Laboratory Extensions
MechJeb2
Mk2 Expansion
Mk3 Expansion
Modular Rocket Systems
Modular Flight Integrator
Near Future Technologies (All)
NRAP Procedural Test Weight
Planetary Base Systems
RLA Stockalike
SpaceY Heavy Lifters & Expanded
Stockalike Station Parts Expansion
Trajectories
TRP Hire
USI Core (Kontainers and Reactors)
Vx Series II Engine Pack

Difficulty Settings

Spoiler

Vehicles

Spoiler

Ranna-C:

Missions

I should point out that the mission names here don't correspond to the missions in the shuttle challenge, just to the chronology of the missions that I'm conducting.

Badges

Edited February 15, 2017 by eloquentJane

septemberWaves · February 10, 2017

Ranna-C Aerodynamics Test

Every shuttle orbiter will require flight testing with a modified airframe to ensure that it can fly in atmosphere. The first and smallest shuttle in the ESS shuttle program is the Ranna space shuttle. It has two variants, one for crew (the Ranna-C) and one for cargo (the Ranna-F). The Ranna-C was the simplest one to modify for the aerodynamics test, but they have identical aerodynamic qualities so this test will clear both of them for flight.

Spoiler

The low thrust of the Juno engines means that the shuttle needs the entire length of the runway to take off. This won't be a problem on spaceflights though, as it will be launched on a rocket.

The test shuttle will fly by the KSC once before attempting to land back on the runway.

Test firing the OMS engine. This test proves that the engine can work in atmosphere, as well as draining the shuttle of fuel and moving it to a higher altitude. The shuttle will then be able to test how it performs when gliding from high altitude with low fuel.

Shutting down the jet engines.

OMS engine cutoff, and executing a turn.

Final landing approach.

Landing successful.

Valentina exits the test shuttle after the successful aerodynamics test. The next flight will be the first time the Ranna-C goes to space and attempts to return.

septemberWaves · February 10, 2017

STS-1

Mission objectives: test the Ranna-C shuttle on a standard ascent and landing.

Crew: Valentina Kerman (pilot), Melicca Kerman (passenger), Janlin Kerman (passenger).

Spoiler

Ignition.

Liftoff of STS-1.

Commencing gravity turn.

This launch is flown using MechJeb's autopilot. I'm able to fly it manually, but the autopilot makes it easier to take good screenshots of a launch so I usually use it. If MechJeb's ascent autopilot means that this doesn't qualify for the shuttle challenge, I'll fly future launches manually.

Reaching maximum dynamic pressure.

Launch engine cutoff.

Launch vehicle separation.

OMS engine ignition.

OMS engine cutoff as 80km apoapsis is reached. The shuttle executes a 180° roll at this point.

Circularizing.

The shuttle in orbit. It has a good amount of delta-v remaining once in orbit; enough to dock with a station and return, if there was a station currently in operation in Kerbin orbit.

The shuttle waits for several orbits until the KSC is in daylight.

Plotting the de-orbit maneuver.

De-orbiting.

Approaching the atmosphere.

The shuttle maintains an angle of 30° for most of the descent. This angle may vary depending on re-entry speed and position relative to the KSC.

Pitching up slightly. The RCS has to be used at this point to assist.

Switching to fully manual control for the final landing approach.

This is probably rather dangerous.

Forces on that turn exceeded 10g at one point, but the crew remained conscious and the shuttle was not damaged.

Burning off some speed before the landing approach.

In hindsight this was probably an exceptionally dangerous maneuver.

That definitely didn't look safe.

Touchdown.

Landing successful.

Mission outcome: total success. The shuttle sustained no damage, the crew remained safe, and the mission objective was completed.

Badge earned:

Edited February 11, 2017 by eloquentJane

septemberWaves · February 14, 2017

STS-2

Mission objectives: test Ranna-F shuttle; deploy small space telescope in Kerbin orbit.

Crew: Valentina Kerman (pilot).

Spoiler

Ignition.

Liftoff of STS-2.

Commencing gravity turn.

Launch engine cutoff.

Launch vehicle separation.

OMS engine ignition.

OMS cutoff as 80km apoapsis is reached.

Circularizing.

Circularization complete.

Delta-v information is somewhat inaccurate because I didn't realize that the decoupler the telescope is attached by defaults to "fuel crossfeed enabled", and both it and the shuttle are powered by monopropellant. Fuel transferring ensued.

Preparing to deploy the payload.

Payload deployed.

The space telescope begins imaging the Mun.

Knowing the shuttle's re-entry capabilities, a quicker de-orbit trajectory can be used.

De-orbiting.

Approaching the atmosphere.

Re-entering.

Using RCS to maintain pitch.

Switching to fully manual control.

The shuttle appears to be about to overshoot the KSC.

Time for another high-gee flip maneuver.

Final approach for landing.

Landing successful.

Mission outcome: total success. The shuttle performed as expected and the cargo was deployed successfully.

septemberWaves · February 15, 2017

Mosrael Aerodynamics Test

The Mosrael Space Shuttle is a rather unusual design. It's directly adapted from a 2.5m rocket, with the service module extended into a sizable cargo bay, the propulsion system replaced with something that can survive re-entry, and of course the addition of wings and landing gear. A pair of jet engines are mounted on the fuselage of a Mosrael shuttle orbiter to test how it performs in-atmosphere.